​For couples who are struggling to conceive, acupuncture can be of great benefit as an adjunct to their normal medical treatment. Patients report that they feel relaxed, supported and understood by a practitioner who treats them in an empathetic and caring way.

At Equilibrium Acupuncture I support women in Putney, Wimbledon and the surrounding area who are trying to conceive.

There have been a number of clinical studies into the use of acupuncture in fertility. Randomised trials in China have demonstrated significantly better pregnancy rates for acupuncture than medication (Yang 2005, Chen 2007, Song 2008), but these studies may not be of a high quality. In the West, clinical trials on acupuncture for natural fertility (i.e. not as an adjunct to assisted conception) are almost non-existent, though there is a small amount of positive evidence (Gerhard 1992, Stener-Victorin 2000, 2008, 2010).

Most clinical trials to date suggest that acupuncture may be useful in the embryo transfer stage of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and results in an increased pregnancy rate and a greater number of live births (Cheong 2008, Manheimer 2008, Kong 2009, Chen 2009, Smith 2006, Westergaard 2006), though there have been exceptions (Domar 2009) In one recent large trial the pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was lower than that of the control (So 2009), thus affecting the results of subsequent reviews (Cheong 2010). This trial used an inappropriately active control treatment, a sort of acupressure, thus casting doubt on the validity of the findings.

Some of the most recent research indicates that whole systems acupuncture, where women are given individualised acupuncture treatments up to and during the assisted conception process increases the chances of live birth compared with those using acupuncture protocols and women undergoing usual care (Lee, Hullender, Rubin, 2015).

It is clear that there is a need for more high-quality randomised controlled clinical trials into the use of acupuncture in assisting natural fertility and as an adjunct to assisted reproduction (IVF).

Research has established plausible mechanisms to explain how acupuncture may benefit fertility, by regulating fertility hormones, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, and counteracting the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

If you are considering the use of acupuncture in assisting you to conceive, please do not hesitate to call me, Jane Smith on 07733 001098. I will be happy to discuss how acupuncture can help you.

A review of the evidence into the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for alleviating cancer symptoms suggest that it can help with pain, chemotherapy induced nausea, fatigue, vomiting, anxiety, hot flushes and numbness.Dr Xiaoshu Zhu, from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine at the University of Western Sydney noted in a presentation at the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne this week that signals to the central nervous system activate neurological and hormonal responses in the brain as a result of the insertion of acupuncture needles.Dr Zhu is currently working with researchers at the South West Sydney Local Health District Cancer Services exploring evidenced based approaches with integration of complementary therapies in cancer survivorship.This is an area of practice that particularly interests me as I researched the effect of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue as part of my academic studies. There is good evidence that acupuncture is effective at both managing cancer patients' symptoms of fatigue and improving their quality of life.

One of the best parts of my job is supporting women through IVF - and then through pregnancy. (I have lots of pregnant clients at the moment and they all love being able to lie face down on my special pregnancy couch cushions!).

Here are a few of the most common questions people ask me about acupuncture and IVF:

Can acupuncture improve my chances of conceiving through IVF?In a word, yes!The evidence suggests that acupuncture given around the time of embryo transfer has a statistically significant effect on pregnancy rates (in a widely-quoted German study* the rates of clinical pregnancy were 42.5% with acupuncture compared to 26.3% without acupuncture)

How does acupuncture work?Research is ongoing but a number of mechanisms have been suggested, including reducing stress hormones in the body and increasing the blood supply to the uterus.

When should I start treatment?It is absolutely fine to come to me for two treatments, one before and one after your embryo transfer. Ideally I like to see patients 2 or 3 months before the IVF process starts so that I can w﻿ork on re﻿gulating their cycle in the lead up to IVF, and help with the symptoms of I﻿VF (﻿for exampl﻿e stress and hot flushes) during the procedure.

What happens at my first treatment?﻿﻿At your first treatment I will ask you lots of questions to gain a complete picture of your state of health and lifestyle. I will then tailor a treatment to your specific needs - it may include both massage and acupuncture. Together we will agree on a treatment plan which may involve weekly treatments, depending on your individual circumstances.If you are attending just for support on the day of embryo transfer we will schedule appointments a few hours before and after the procedure - although most recent research indicates that the optimal outcomes are achieved when women are given individualised treatments, ideally starting a few weeks before the IVF process begins (Lee, Hullender, Rubin,2015).

If you have any questions please contact Jane on 07733 001098, or email info@equilibriumacupuncture.co.uk

A new study shows London is risking a back pain epidemic caused by unhealthy habits and sedentary lifestyles. The findings from a study by the British Acupuncture Council to mark 'Acupuncture Awareness Week' show that almost 80 per cent of people suffer with back pain yet admit to behaviours that put their backs under unnecessary strain. The study found that almost half of the nation admit to eating on their lap, 40 per cent complain they sit at a desk all day and over a third admit to watching TV or films in bed. When asked about their posture, almost a third also admitted they slouch most of the time. Further results reveal that when it comes to dealing with back pain, 74 per cent say they repeatedly use painkillers to deal with their discomfort rather than addressing the root cause of the problem.In my experience, painkillers often numb the end symptom and mask the problem but do not address many of the combined underlying causes of back pain. By stimulating different points of the body, traditional acupuncture combined with tuina massage can be extremely beneficial for back pain, providing long term pain relief and reducing inflammation. Patients report that they feel relaxed and happy after treatment - in fact many of them fall asleep on the couch!Despite acupuncture's widely recognised health benefits, many people are missing the point when it comes to this ancient Chinese medicine. Statistics show that 41 per cent of people would only consider acupuncture as a last resort and 88 per cent didn't know the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the therapy for persistent, non-specific lower back pain. I find that many patients opt for the painkiller route with limited success before turning to acupuncture. Simple lifestyle changes alongside acupuncture could save millions of people taking medication every day.

Many of my clients complain of feeling run down, depressed and lacking in energy at this time of year. When it's cold and miserable I always recommend caring for yourself by eating warming foods - for example, replacing your lunchtime salad with a warm soup. Also paying attention to staying warm can really make a difference, particularly when cycling or running.

Acupuncture can also help to combat the seasonal blues by boosting your body's energy levels and improving your mood. It is believed that acupuncture works by stimulating the nervous system and causing the release of neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body's homeostatic mechanisms, thus promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.

A client recently told me that her weekly treatments had really made a difference to how she felt this winter - she is sleeping much better and has much more energy.

Frances Childs describes her experience of having cosmetic acupuncture in today's Daily Mail. She reports rosier and clearer skin - and interestingly she appears to find the feeling of well-being after treatment almost as beneficial as the 'lifting'!

It's great to hear that the Olympic gold medal winning heptathlete is a fan of acupuncture. 'I've had acupuncture after training injuries just to get deep into the muscle. It works really well', she told the Irish Times today.

Acupuncture is great for speeding up recovery from sports injuries, and also works well for chronic conditions such as back pain.

A recent study* has shown that acupuncture enables hay fever sufferers to resort to their antihistamines less frequently.

Patients usually come to me once a year for an intense but effective session! Most people report less pronounced symptoms and a decrease in use of their usual medications.

If you're a victim of hay fever, it's best to come for treatment before the start of the pollen season, as acupuncture protects against symptoms by strengthening the immune system. Ideally treatment should be timed to boost your resistance before the pollen strikes. However, even after the itchy eyes and runny nose start, acupuncture can still relieve the symptoms by boosting your natural endorphins and reducing the discomfort that hay fever causes.

To discuss whether acupuncture could help you, please call me on 07733 001098 or email info@equilibriumacupuncture.co.uk.